Furigana Generator
Add hiragana readings to Japanese kanji text. Convert to furigana, full hiragana, or romaji instantly.
Enter Japanese text to automatically generate furigana readings. Maximum 5000 characters.
0/5,000 characters
How to Use This Furigana Generator
Using our furigana generator is simple and straightforward. Start by pasting or typing your Japanese text containing kanji into the input field above. The tool automatically processes your text and displays the results in real-time, so there's no need to click a convert button.
Choose your preferred output format using the mode selector buttons. Furigana mode displays small hiragana readings above each kanji character, preserving the original text appearance.Hiragana mode converts all kanji to their hiragana equivalents inline, which is useful for reading practice. Romaji mode transliterates the entire text into Roman letters, perfect for beginners who haven't yet learned Japanese scripts.
After conversion, use the copy buttons to save your results. The "Export as HTML" option preserves the ruby tag formatting for web use, while "Export as Plain Text" provides a simple format with readings in parentheses. Enable the word breakdown feature to see individual words with their JLPT levels and dictionary links for deeper study.
What is Furigana? A Complete Guide
Furigana (振り仮名) is a Japanese reading aid consisting of smaller kana characters printed above or beside kanji to indicate their pronunciation. This typographical practice has been an essential part of Japanese written culture for centuries, making complex texts accessible to readers of all levels. The term combines "furi" (振り), meaning "to assign," and "gana" (仮名), referring to the Japanese phonetic scripts.
The History and Purpose of Furigana
Furigana emerged during the Heian period (794-1185) when Japanese scholars began annotating Chinese texts with Japanese readings. Over time, this practice evolved into the modern furigana system we use today. The primary purpose of furigana is educational—it helps readers learn new kanji by showing the correct pronunciation alongside the character. This is particularly valuable because a single kanji can have multiple readings depending on context, compound words, or whether it's used in a native Japanese word (kun'yomi) or a Chinese-derived word (on'yomi).
Where You'll Find Furigana
Furigana appears in various contexts throughout Japanese media and publications. Children's books and educational materials typically include furigana above all kanji, allowing young readers to engage with texts before they've mastered all the characters. Manga (Japanese comics) frequently uses furigana, especially in publications aimed at younger audiences like Shonen Jump. This makes manga an excellent resource for Japanese learners, as they can read authentic Japanese content while having pronunciation guides readily available.
Newspapers and adult publications use furigana more selectively, typically only for unusual readings, rare kanji, or names. Japanese names are particularly challenging because the same kanji can be read in many different ways when used in personal names. Official documents, legal texts, and government forms often include furigana for important terms to ensure clarity and accessibility.
Furigana in Digital Content
In the digital age, furigana is implemented using HTML ruby tags, which allow web developers to display reading annotations above base text. This technology has made it easier than ever to create accessible Japanese content online. Our furigana generator uses this same technology, producing clean HTML output that you can use directly on websites, in documents, or for study materials.
Benefits for Japanese Learners
For students of Japanese, furigana serves as an invaluable learning tool. It allows learners to read authentic Japanese texts at any level, building vocabulary and kanji recognition simultaneously. Rather than constantly looking up unfamiliar characters in a dictionary, learners can maintain reading flow while absorbing new readings naturally. Studies have shown that exposure to kanji with furigana helps reinforce character recognition and improves reading speed over time.
Whether you're a beginner just starting your Japanese journey, an intermediate learner tackling more complex texts, or a translator working with challenging materials, furigana provides the support needed to engage confidently with Japanese writing. Our tool makes generating furigana instant and effortless, helping you focus on learning rather than struggling with unknown characters.
Understanding Kanji Readings: On'yomi and Kun'yomi
One of the most challenging aspects of learning Japanese kanji is understanding that each character can have multiple pronunciations. These readings are broadly categorized into two types: on'yomi (音読み) and kun'yomi (訓読み). Mastering when to use each type is essential for reading Japanese fluently.
On'yomi: The Chinese Reading
On'yomi, literally meaning "sound reading," refers to the pronunciation derived from the original Chinese pronunciation when the character was imported to Japan. These readings were adapted to fit Japanese phonology, so they don't sound exactly like modern Chinese. On'yomi readings are typically used when kanji appear in compound words (jukugo) consisting of two or more kanji characters. For example, the kanji 山 (mountain) has the on'yomi "san," which appears in compounds like 富士山 (Fujisan - Mount Fuji) and 山脈 (sanmyaku - mountain range).
Kun'yomi: The Japanese Reading
Kun'yomi, or "meaning reading," represents the native Japanese word that existed before kanji were introduced. When Japanese scholars adopted Chinese characters, they assigned them to existing Japanese words with similar meanings. The same kanji 山 has the kun'yomi "yama," used when the character stands alone or with hiragana, as in 山登り (yamanobori - mountain climbing). Kun'yomi readings often appear with okurigana—hiragana suffixes that indicate grammatical function, particularly for verbs and adjectives.
How Our Tool Handles Multiple Readings
Our furigana generator uses sophisticated morphological analysis to determine the correct reading for each kanji based on context. The underlying technology examines surrounding characters, grammatical patterns, and common word formations to select the appropriate pronunciation. This context-aware approach ensures accurate furigana even for kanji with many possible readings.
Special Readings and Exceptions
Beyond on'yomi and kun'yomi, Japanese has special readings called nanori (名乗り) used primarily in names, and ateji (当て字) where kanji are used purely for their sound rather than meaning. Some common words also have irregular readings that must be memorized, such as 今日 (kyō - today) rather than the expected "konichi." The word breakdown feature in our tool helps identify these special cases by showing the dictionary form alongside the actual reading used in context.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is furigana and why is it used?
Furigana are small hiragana characters placed above kanji to indicate their pronunciation. They are commonly used in Japanese educational materials, children's books, manga, and texts aimed at learners. Furigana helps readers who may not know the reading of certain kanji characters, making Japanese text more accessible to a wider audience.
How does the furigana generator work?
Our furigana generator uses advanced Japanese language processing powered by morphological analysis. It analyzes your text, identifies kanji characters, and determines their correct readings based on context and surrounding words. The tool then displays hiragana readings above each kanji using HTML ruby tags, which is the standard web format for furigana display.
What is the difference between furigana, hiragana, and romaji output modes?
Furigana mode shows hiragana readings above kanji while keeping the original kanji visible—ideal for learning kanji recognition. Hiragana mode converts all kanji to hiragana inline, replacing the kanji entirely, which is useful for reading practice. Romaji mode converts the entire text to Roman letters, perfect for beginners who haven't yet learned Japanese scripts or for pronunciation reference.
Can I use the furigana output on my website or in documents?
Yes! Use the 'Export as HTML' button to copy the furigana text with proper HTML ruby tags. This HTML can be pasted directly into your website, blog, or any HTML-compatible document and will display correctly in all modern browsers. For word processors, use 'Export as Plain Text' which formats readings in parentheses after each kanji.
What are JLPT levels shown in the word breakdown?
JLPT (Japanese Language Proficiency Test) is the standardized test for Japanese language ability, with levels ranging from N5 (beginner) to N1 (advanced). The word breakdown shows the JLPT level of kanji in each word, helping learners identify which words match their current study level and prioritize vocabulary accordingly.
Why might the furigana reading be different from what I expected?
Japanese kanji often have multiple readings (on'yomi and kun'yomi) that change based on context, compound words, and grammatical usage. Our tool uses contextual analysis to determine the most likely reading, but some words have irregular or special readings. The word breakdown feature can help you verify readings and explore alternatives through dictionary links.
Is there a limit to how much text I can convert?
Yes, the tool accepts up to 5,000 characters per conversion to ensure fast processing times. For longer texts, we recommend converting in sections. The character counter below the input field shows your current usage. Most articles, study passages, and typical content fit well within this limit.
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